Quotes

  • "All mankind... being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions." (Second Treatise of Government)

The quote presents John Locke's idea of natural rights; moreover, he explains how everyone is granted these rights, regardless of their background. His words explain how he thinks that no man has a right to take away these natural rights granted to every human. He wants to make it clear how everyone is equal, and Locke wants to teach how someone's skin color, cultural background, or gender limits them from the natural rights.Locke's natural rights are practiced today in the United States because the same natural rights Locke discovers are in the Declaration of Independence which influences every Americans' actions.

MLA Citation:
"John Locke." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2014. 26 September 2014.

Website:
http://www.brainyquote.com/citation/quotes/quotes/j/johnlocke401229.html?ct=John+Locke

  • "The end of law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom. For in all the states of created beings capable of law, where there is no law, there is no freedom."

Locke's words explain his views on why the government is important and why the world needs government. He believes the government is established to protect the natural rights of the people. There is much debate if the government is doing there job, but with the laws that the government creates, they are protecting us whether we recognize it or not. If Locke were here today, he would definitely see how today's government protects us with their laws.

MLA Citation:
"John Locke." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2014. 26 September 2014.

Website:
http://www.brainyquote.com/citation/quotes/quotes/j/johnlocke401229.html?ct=John+Locke



  • "Government has no other end, but the preservation of property."

Locke wants society to realize how the government is meant to preserve everyone's natural rights. He wants to show everyone that government has no other purpose but to protect people. Today's government writes a plethora of laws, but anyone can see how they protect society's lives and morals.

MLA Citation:
"John Locke." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2014. 26 September 2014.

Website:
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/johnlocke383067.html


  • "Every man has a property in his own person. This nobody has a right to, but himself."

Locke is explaining his views on how he believes that nobody has a right to take away a human's natural rights. Everyone is entitled to the natural rights when they are born, and no one is able to take them away. Dictators try to remove these rights from people, but Locke explains how nobody is allowed to take them away. Since the natural rights are in the Declaration of Independence, the United States can never go to a dictatorship because to do so would be stealing everyone's natural rights which John Locke says everyone is entitled to.

MLA Citation:
"John Locke." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2014. 26 September 2014.

Website:
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/johnlocke151490.html

  • "The reason why men enter into society is the preservation of their property."

Locke's statement helps to explain his idea on how the government protects your life, liberty, and possession of property. One of Locke's main philosophies is the government's main purpose is to protect our natural rights, and through this quote, he is saying why people need to join the government willingly. It paints a good picture why people today still have the government because they want the protection of the government.

MLA Citation:
"John Locke." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2014. 27 September 2014.

Website:
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/johnlocke125035.html

  • "No man's knowledge here can go beyond his experience."

Here, Locke is presenting his philosophy that everyone learns through experience. He means that if someone is older, then he or she is wiser than those who are younger. These ideas of his are extremely controversial because a variety of people do not believe that their experience leads to knowledge. While that may be true, someone can learn a lot and be smarter than most no matter how old they are. If someone spends their entire life playing Pac-Man, they will be wise in the world of Pac-Man gaming because they are so experienced in that area, but they will not be smart in other areas.

MLA Citation:
"John Locke." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2014. 27 September 2014.

Website:
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/johnlocke143142.html

  • "Reading furnishes the mind only with materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read ours."

Locke's thought of reflection is hidden within the quote. His idea is that when people first learn something, simple ideas of sense arise. After they absorb it, their mind starts to critique what they've learned; moreover, Locke calls this critiqued information reflection. The "furnishings of reading" represent the simple ideas of sense, and the thinking that makes the reading ours represents the idea of reflection. Locke shows how today people do not need to just accept information, but they need to think on their own though reflection.

MLA Citation:
"John Locke." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2014. 27 September 2014.

Website:
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/johnlocke121671.html